Dairy rich diets drastically reduce fractures in aged care residents: research

Adding extra dairy into the diets of residents can drastically reduce fractures and falls in aged care, according to a new study.

A two year trial — carried out by the University of Melbourne and Austin Health — tested the impact of adding calcium and protein through dairy foods into the diet of 7195 residents from 60 Victorian aged-care facilities.

Amazingly, the study found a 33 per cent reduction in all fractures across the group.

It also found a 46 per cent reduction in hip fractures, and an 11 per cent reduction in falls — with a significant reduction becoming apparent between three and five months after the trial began.

The intervention was simple, with researchers only increasing the serves of dairy eaten by residents from two to 3.5 daily. But the results were impressive.

Principal investigator Dr Sandra Iuliano, from the University of Melbourne and Austin Health, said that similar results could be achievable at any aged care homes as the dairy rich foods are "widely available, palatable, low cost and can be incorporated into the daily menu".

“Providing adequate dairy foods in the diets of older adults is a proven intervention and a sensible approach to reducing the fracture burden in the whole community,” she said.

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